The Power of saying NO!
I don’t want anyone to misinterpret the title of this blog
of me being the one who has the power to say no because in fact it is the
opposite. I need to learn how to say no.
Last week I went to the grocery store and as I walked
towards the produce and fruit aisle I was stopped by a nice man who asked if I
had a second to talk. I wasn’t in a rush so I walked over to him and started to
engage him in a pretty light conversation about the weather. Things took a
quick turn when he asked me if I ever read the newspaper. In my 29 years on
this planet I have never used the newspaper maybe only a few times for school
projects but I have NEVER sat and read an article. I was about to respond with
no when I had a flashback to my childhood my mom was making us waffles for
breakfast and sitting at the kitchen table reading the obituaries to see if
anyone that she knew had died. That memory instantly put a smile on my face and
I told the guy that I don’t read it but I wish that I did. This would be my
first mistake.
He handed me a “free” newspaper and told me to make the time
to read this one. I smiled, took the newspaper from him, said thank you and
began to walk away. He quickly stopped me again and asked if I was doing some
grocery shopping. (What a stupid question obviously I was at the grocery store
to do some grocery shopping.) After I said yes he handed me a 10 dollar gift
card to the grocery store we were at. This man then began to talk to me about
the newspaper he worked for and how great it was and why I needed a monthly
subscription.
** THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD HAVE SAID NO**
He then asked me for my address… what did I do? I gave it to
him!
He then asked me for my full name… what did I do? I gave it
to him!
He then asked for my credit card information… what did I do?
I gave it to him!
I now have to explain to my husband why there are newspapers
on our driveway that we are paying 10 dollars a month for. Maybe it will
continue to snow and they will be hidden under the snow and then I won’t have
to mention it till the spring.